Engine-starting apparatus



Nov. 13, 1923. v 1,4741-,11 v A. H. ABELL ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i n Inventor: 38 35 30 i. 28 Arthur H.\bel

H is fittorneg Nov. 13, 11923. 1,474,4331 9 A. H. ABELL ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iil illl :7

Inventor:

Arthur Mme by His Attorney Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UITED I ARTHUR H. ABELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMI OF NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T RA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, a coaroas'rron ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 19, 1920. Serial No. 374,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. ABELL, a :itizen of the United States, and a resident of New York cit in the county of New York and State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention relates to engine starters particularly .to the transmission portion thereof, and is concerned with mechanisms of the type in which the drivin member or pinion is normally displaced rom the cooperating member on the engine and. is brought into engagement therewith for cranking.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a compactmechanism of the above type comprising few parts of rugged and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type mentioned which shall be automatic and relatively quiet in action.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the general character .referred to, in which the relatively movable parts may be efi'ectively lubricated and are completely protected from access of dust or dirt.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in 30 part pointed out hereinafter;

A. preferred form of the invention is embodied in a construction of the type in which a smooth shaft encircled-by a spring functions in the manner of the threaded shaft of Bijur Patent No. 1,095,696 of May 5, 1914 for effecting advance of a pinion toward mesh. More specifically ll prefer to mount the pinion upon the shaft in advance of the spring and connect a shifting element for the pinion between convolutions of the spring.

As a desirable feature of the invention, when embodied in a device of the type mentioned, clutching means may be provided for transmitting the cranking torque, said clutching means being preferably apart and distinct from the shifting means, thus avoiding the binding or jamming which may occur when one and the same element cooperates with the spring both for shifting the pinion and for clutching. As another desirable feature, I prefer to secure the spring to the shaft at its end adjacent the fly wheel, thus minimizing the likelihood of binding or jamming of the spring with cooperating parts,

which may occur where the spring is secured near its opposite end, and also rendering possible the use of the free end of the spring as a yielding back stop.

In a preferred embodiment, all of those parts of the automatic device which in operation are or may be relatively movable are completely enclosed, whereby dust or dirt are effectively kept out of the mechanism and the lubricant is at the same time kept where it is useful.

Certain of the broad features of the invention, as will appear more fully below, are not confined in their application to the use of a spring to function as a screw thread for automatic pinion shiftng.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation of an installation partly in section showing one outboard embodiment of my invention, Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the transmission mechanism of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of my invention in inboard form, Fig. 6 is an elevation of a still another embodiment of the invention shown by way of illustration in inboard form, Fig. 7 is a view in longitudinal section of the transmission mechanism 'of Fig. 6, the section being taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 9, F ig. 8 is a plan of the cap viewed from the; inside, Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of F ig. 7, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the spring used-in the species of Figs. 6 and 7 and Fig. 11 is a detail view of a shifting member or key.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a flywheel 1 provided with gear teeth -11 and which may be enclosed for example by a casing 2. A start ing motor 6 "preferably electrical, has its shaft 9 extending beyond its bearing 8 and fitting at its free end in an outer bearing 10 disposed in a housing 3 having one integral flange 5 secured to the motor by screws as at 7 and another inte ral flange 4 fitting about an opening-4 in t e flywheel casing 2 and secured thereto by screws as at 4: thereby retaining the starting motor in proper relation with respect to the engine. The means for mounting the starting motor by itself is no part of my invention.

The transmission mechanism comprises a pinion 13 which may fit upon a smooth shaft end 9 of reduced diameter. Coiled about the main portion of the shaft 9 I provide a helical torsion spring 14 having a loop 15 encircling a pin 16 adjacent the pinion for securing the said spring to the shaft the point of fastening of the spring to the shaft being adjacent the flywheel and the free end of the spring being remotely disposed with reference to the flywheel. The

pinion 13 has an integral hollow extension 12 in the form of a barrel encircling the spring 14 with small clearance. A plurality, preferably three studs, are threaded at equal angular intervals into the barrel 21 as at 17, 18 and 19, said studs having flattened heads extending between convoutions of the spring 14. A wire 20 may encircle the barrel and fit into slots 65 in said studs for securing the same against coming loose by the vibration occurring in use,the free ends of the wire being firmly secured together as at 21. A closure plug 22 for the barrel encircles'the shaft 9 and has a sliding fit thereon, and one or more studs as at 24 or equivalent means may be employed for securing said plug to the barrel. The c osure plug 22 has a shoulder 23 extending longitudinally of the barrel, adapted in use to clutch the free end of the spring 14, said end being bent to dispose it in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the device as at 25.

In Fig. 5 is shown a somewhat different form of the invention. The motor'shaft extension 34 is here shown of uniform diameter and the pinion 29 whose teeth are adapted to cooperate with teeth 27 on the flywheel 28 has the barrel or sleeve 30 firmly threaded thereto at its rear end. A helical'spring 31 similar to that of Fig. 2 is secured to the shaft adjacent the pinion as at 3233 and the free end 36 of the spring is adapted to be clutched by a shoulder 37 upon closure plug 38 forthe barrel. said plug being substantially identical with plug 22 in the species of Figs. 1 to 4 exceptthat in this embodimentthe plug is shown threaded into the barrel end. In place of the studs 17, 18. 19 of Figs. 1 to 3 this embodiment of the invention contemplates forming integrally upon the interior of the barrel 30 approximately one complete turn of a thread for meshing with small clearance as at 66 between con-.

volutions of the spring 31.

inboard form the gear teeth 27 on, the flywheel 28 being normally between the motor 40 and the driving pinion 47 and this pinion being arranged to move along the motor shaft extension 39 toward the motor for mesh with the flywheel teeth. Rigidly secured to the pinion by any desired means or integral therewith, there is a barrel 48 preferably of substantially larger diameter than the pinion. A helical torsion spring 43 is arranged with its convolutionsin close proximity to the inner surface of the barrel, this spring by preference encircling a drum 42 firmly secured to the shaft extension 39 by threads as at 41. The spring 43 has a radially extending end 44 which may be disposed in a corresponding slot 46 milled into the drum 42 adjacent the end nearest the pinion. The barrel is preferably closed by a cap 49 having a bearing portion 61 with a sliding fit upon the smooth shaft 39; The drum 42 is hollow at the end adjoining the hearing so that the latter'may extend therein when the device is shifted-toward the right. By preferenceI employ a )air-ofshifting members-or keys 50 form 1 of blanks curved slightly to adapt their lengths to extend along or between adjoining convolutions of the spring 43".. :I fv desired these shifting members may be formed to, act also as a means for securing the cover 49 upon the barrel 48. For this purpose an integral lug may be formed upon each shifting member 50, said lug being passed into a bayonet slot 56 whereupon a square button 57 is secured to the barrel by a screw 58 serving to close the bayonet slot against egress of the key 50.

\Vithin the bearing cap there is formed an integral shoulder 60 adapted to clutch the free end 59 of the spring. saidend being preferably bent to extend in a direction longitudinally of the spring. One of the shifting keys 50 is preferably provided with a shoulder 52 at one end for clutching the end 59 of the spring when the device is thrown to demeshed or home position.

The operation of the embodiment shown in 6 and 11 is substantially as follows: The motor 40 being started, the. shaft 39 and the spring 43 mounted thereoii will be set into rapid rotation. By reason of the inertia of the pinion 47 with its associated barrel 48 and closure cap 49, this rigid assembly, which I designate driving unit will not immediately take up the rotation of the shaft. As the shifting keys 50 extend between convolutions of the spring they will consequently, according to the well understood principle, cause the barrel and the associated pinion to be translated forwardly for meshing of the gear 47 with gear 27. It will be understood that the terms forward and rearward arefintended to apply respectively to movement toward and from mesh with the flywheel. As meshing takes place the sho llder G0 on the bearing cap will clutch the end 59 of the spring and shifting movement will be arrested. The torque of the motor is then transmitted from the shaft, 39 through the. drum 42, the spring 43, the clutch 5960, the barrel closure 49, the barrel 48 and the pinion 47. In this operation it is to be observed that after the pinion has come into meshing engagement with the flywheel and the end 59 of the spring starts clutching the shoulder 60 in the barrel cover,

the continued rotation of the shaft 39 and the spring 43 will cause the latter to wind up against shoulder 60 until its tensionis sufficient. to transmit the entire cranking tor ue. By this winding up process it will rea ily be seen that the spring expands or its convolutions become of larger diameter. This expansion is, however, limited by the inner surface of the barrel, so that in the cranking of, an engine, regardless how strain on the spring becoming a compression strain.

It will further be noted that in the expansion of the spring to contact the interior of v the barrel, the axial length of the spring remains unchanged and consequently the number of convolutions is necessarily decreased. The distance between successive convolutions being, therefore, increased as a conse uence any-frictional contact with the shi ting keys is effectively relieved. Thus by allowing the spring to be distorted in a radial rather than an axial direction, I avoid binding with the shifting keys dur ing cranking.

\Vhen the engine starts firing, the shifting keys 50 are urged in a reverse direction along the spring at a rate in excess of that at which the spring is rotated so that the keys will overrun the spring and the barrel mechanism will be moved to the left, withdrawing the pinion to demeshing or home position in the well known manner. pinionand its associated parts are yieldingly arrested in their travel toward home position by the engagement of shoulder 52 on one of the shiftingkeys 50 with the bent end 59 on the spring.

The teeth of the pinion 47 are preferably beveled as shown .at 47' to bring about ready entry between the teeth .27 of the flywheel. Should the pinion, however, instead of /properly meshing with the flywheel come into butting relation with ends of the flywheel teeth, the pinion will be The V automatically urged out of buttand into mesh byfthe following operation: Upon butt, the shifting keys cannot continue their advance between the convolutions of the spring, the latter will be fed rea-rwardly, those convolutions remaining between the end 44 the keys 50 becoming expanded or stretched and the remaining convolutions becoming compressed against the shoulder 60 in the barrel. When the pressure upon the shoulder 60 by the spring reaches a sufficient value the spring in its continued rotation will start rotating the barrel and with it the pinion. A slight rotation will bring the pinion out of butting relation and immediately thereafter the expansion of the compressed left end of the spring and the contraction of the expanded right end of the spring will both contribute. toward snapping the keys 50 and with them the barrel and the pinion forwardly for meshing engagement of the pinion with the flywheel. The further operation proceeds as already described above.

The operation of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will be obvious from the above description and need, therefore. not be recited in detail.

It will be seen that by my invention the element fitting between the convolutions of the spring, functions to shift the gear, and

the cranking torque is applied through the end of the spring by a separate clutching action, the torque being transmit-ted through the entire length of the spring. By this means I avoid the binding or jamming action which may be encountered when the binding of the shifting member between convolutions is relied upon for torque transmission. Inthis connection I desire to claim broadly the combination of a pinion. an automatic shifting element therefor and means separate and distinct from the shifting member for transmitting the torque, and this independent of the use of a helical spring or the equivalent.

y securing the spring with respect to the shaft at a point adjacent the pinion and leaving the remote end of the spring free I produce a short construction in,,which the away from the various relatively movable-1 parts of the mechanism.

It will thus be seen that there is herein-,1.

described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different emhodlments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall he interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim l.- In cdmbination, a flywheel gear and automatic," transmission for engine starters, comprising a driving shaft, a pinion mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof, a heli- (al spring coaxial with said driving shaft and having one end thereof fastened to said driving shaft, the point of fastening of said spring to said driving shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel, and means interposed between the convolutions of said spring and connected to said pinion for causing axial advance of said pinion by inertia upon rotation of said driving shaft.

2. The combination in an engine starter, of a flywheel, a shaft, a driving member thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaftand having an end secured for rotation therewith, the point of fastening of said spring to said shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel. shift-ing means extending between convolutions of said spring and connected to said driving member to cause the latter to more along said shaft upon actuation of the starter, and means distinct from said shifting means to ,iyieldingly apply cranking torque. from said spring to said driving member.

3. The combination in an engine starter, of a flywheel. a shaft, :1 driving member thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and having an end secured for rotation therewith, the point of fastening of said spring to said shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel, shifting means extending between con volutions of said spring and connected to said driving member to cause the latter to move along said shaft upon actuation of the starter, and means adapted to be clutched by the free end of said springfor transmitting cranking torque from said spring to said driving member.

4. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a driving member thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and rotatable therewith, means rigid with said driving member and extending between convolutions of said spring, to cause said driving member to automatically move forward along said shaft toward operative position upon actuation of the starter, and a stop shoulder to the rear of said driving member for arresting the forward movement thereof when in cranking position.

5. In an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, a motor driven shaft, a helical coil surrounding and attached at one end to said shaft, the point of attachment of said spring to said shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel, and av driving unitsurrounding said helical coil, said unit engaging with said helical coil, both between convolutions and by contact with the unattached end of said helical coil.

6. In an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, a motor driven shaft, a helical spring surrounding and attached at one end to said shaft, the point of attachment of said spring to said shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel, a drivin unit free to slide and turn on said shaft said unit including a driving pinion, means for sliding said unit on said shaft comprising projections thereon engaging with said helical spring between its convolutions, and means for rotating said unit by engagement with the unattached end of said spring.

7. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a driving pinion thereon, a barrel rigid with said pinion, a coil spring encircling said shaft and secured thereto at the s end adjacent said pinion, projections from said barrel fitting between convolutions of said spring, and stop means on said barrel f0r cooperation with the free end of said sprmg upon mesh to transmit torque from sald spring through said barrel to said pinion.

8. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a driving member thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and havin an end secured for rotation therewith, shi ting means extending between convolutions of said spring and connected to said driving member to cause the latter to move along said shaft upon actuation of the starter,

means adapted to be clutched by the free end of said spring for transmitting cranking torque from said spring to said driving member, and a barrel'enclosing said spring for limiting the expansion thereof during cranking.

shoulder on said barrel adapted to be clutched by the free end of said spring for transmitting cranking torque from said spring to said driving member, whereby said barrel will limit the expansion of said spring during crankin 10. The combination, in an engine starter, of a shaft, a toothed driving member thereon, a barrel coaxial with said drivin member and having one end rigid therewith, the opposite end of said barrel having a closure rigid therewith and snugly encircling said shaft, and shifting and torque transmitting means completely enclosed within said barrel at all stages of the operation.

11. The combination, in an engine starter, of a smooth shaft, a toothed driving member thereon, a barrel coaxial with said driving member and having one end rigid therewith, the opposite end of said barrel having a 010- sure' rigid therewith and snugly encircling said shaft, a helical member cooperating with said barrel to cause shifting thereof, and means within said barrel to yieldingly transmit, cranking torque through said barrel to said driving member.

12. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a toothed driving member thereon, a barrel coaxial with said driving memher and having one end rigid therewith, the opposite end of said barrel having a closure rigid therewith and snugly encircling'said shaft, a helical sprin Within said barrel and secured to said shaft, means extending inwardly from said barrel between convolutions of said spring to cause shifting of said barrel for meshing of said driving member upon actuation of the starter, and means formed upon-said closure of the barrel to be clutched by the free end of said spring for delivering cranking torque.

13. The combination in an engine starter, of a smooth shaft, a toothed driving member upon said shaft, a barrel coaxial and rigid with said driving member, a closure for said barrel rigid -therewith and snugly and slidably encircling said shaft, a drum rigid upon said shaft and within said barrel, a helical member encirclin said drum, and shifting means extending between convolutions of said helical member substantially midway between said driving member and said closure.

' 14. The combination in an engine starter, of a smooth shaft, a toothed driving member upon said shaft, a barrel coaxial and rigid with said driving member, a closure for said barrel rigid therewith and snugly and slidably encircling said shaft, a drum rigid upon said shaft and within said barrel, a torsion spring encircling said drum, shifting means extending between convolutions of said torsion spring substantially midway between said driving member and said closure, and stop means on said closure for clutching the free end of said spring.

15. In an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, a smooth shaft, a pinion thereon, a barrel rigid with said pinion. a closure for said barrel snugly fitting said shaft, a torsion spring within said barrel and fastened to said shaft, the point of fas- "tening of said spring to said shaft being adjacent said flywheel and the free end of said spring being remotely disposed with reference to said flywheel, and a plurality of shifting members secured to said barrel and extending inwardly therefrom bet-ween convolutions of said spring.

16. The combination of claim 15 in which the shifting members are in the form of flat keys having their base ends extending through the barrel and its closure to lock the latter two elements together.

17. Thecombination in an engine starter. of a smooth shaft having a reduced diameter near its end, a pinion fitting on said reduced diameter, a barrel integral with said pinion and encircling said shaft, a torsion spring encircling said shaft and within said barrel,

means securing said spring to said shaft at one end, and means rigid with said'barrel, and clutching the other end of said spring to transmit cranking torque therethrough.

18. The combination in an engine starter, of a smooth shaft having a reduced diameter near its end, a pinion fitting on said reduced diameter, a barrel integral with said pinion and encircling sai d shaft, a torsion spring secured to said shaft adjacent said pinion and coiled about said shaft within said barrel, and a closure for said barrel snugly and slidably encircling said shaft and having a shoulder'adapted to clutch the free end of said spring.

19. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, an inclined' member thereon, a pinion on said shaft in advance of said inclined member, means cooperating with said inclined member and with said pinion to cause advance of the latter along said shaft for mesh with an engine driven member, and clutching means upon said shaft and to the rear of said inclined member for transmitting cranking torque.

' 20. The combination in an engine starter,

of a shaft, a helical member thereon, a pin-' ion on said shaft in advance of said helical member, shifting means extending between oonvolutions of said helical member and cooperating with said pinion, to cause advance along said shaft for mesh with an engine driven member, and means to the rear of said helical member arranged to clutch a part thereof for cranking torque transmiss1on.

21. The con'ibination of claim 20, in which the pinion, the shifting means and the clutching means constitute parts of a rigid structure. i

22. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a spring coiled about the same, a driving unit having a toothed portion for gripping an engine member, and a shifting portion extending between convolutions of said spring, said spring having a bent free end for yieldingly arresting said driving unit when the same is urged to home position. p

23. The combination in an engine starter, of ashaft, a spring coiled about the same,

' a drlving unit associated with said spring and including a driving pinion in advance of said spring, a shifting member fitting between convolutions of said spring, and a clutching member to the rear of said spring, said spring being secured to said shaft at its end adjacent said pinion and being bent at its free end for cooperation with said clutching member during cranking and for yieldingly arresting a part of said driving unit when the latter is urged to demesh or home position.

24. The combination in an engine starter, of a shaft, a helical spring coiled about and having an end rotatable with said shaft, a shifting member connected to said pinion and extending between convolutions of said spring and means for relieving pressure between said shifting member and said spring during cranking.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 2nd day of April 1920.

ARTHUR H. ABELL. 

